Factors to Take into Account When Choosing a Distance Education Program
Considering extending their education online is becoming more popular in this day and age of many employment options. While this distant education option to a traditional college campus allows you to continue working while attending to your daily responsibilities, this method of education is not suitable for all students or circumstances. Whether you are considering furthering your education and are considering distance or online learning options, consider the following personal traits to see if you would be a good distance student. If you are unsure if you would be a good distance student, consult with a counselor.
Do you have a strong sense of self-motivation? When it comes to distinguishing successful distance education students from others, this personality attribute is possibly the most crucial. In contrast to a regular classroom, you will not be required to meet numerous times each week in order to maintain your momentum and success. You will be given assignments to do, exams to take, and maybe some instructor notes to read, and then you will be left to your own devices to finish them. This implies that you must force yourself to study even the most innocuous of subjects. Success or failure in mastering the subject and achieving deadlines will be totally dependent on your own efforts and efforts alone.
Are you someone who procrastinates? Self-motivation and procrastination seem to be synonymous, however, some individuals are motivated only when the clock is ticking down to the deadline. In the event that you put off studying for examinations or writing tasks until the last minute, distant education would not be a good fit for you. Because you will be preparing on your own, you will need to schedule a time to prepare and study on a regular basis in order to be successful.
Do you find reading to be a useful learning tool? The majority of your class time would be spent listening to lectures, watching videos, and participating in classroom discussions if you attended a more traditional college setting. Those who learn well via reading and have higher than average reading comprehension abilities will be better equipped to comprehend the whole reading information on their own. While reading in a conventional setting may replace the majority of your lectures, reading for remote education may replace the majority of your lectures. If you have difficulty recalling written content as compared to learning through hearing, this might negatively impact your ability to do well on tests. There are various study strategies that you may use to assist you in this endeavor, but you must first examine your own learning style honestly and objectively.
Do you find yourself easily distracted? If you find yourself unwittingly wasting your study time watching the latest reality show, talking on the phone, or browsing the internet, you will need to ensure that you have the discipline to focus on your studies when it is time to study. Setting aside a quiet space for the study will be beneficial. However, if you are unable to resist temptation, you will be unable to absorb the information you are striving to acquire.
Last but not least, are you a people person? A remote college education may be appealing to those who have graduated from high school and do not care about attending fraternity parties or keggers in their retirement years. But there are other social possibilities at college, such as classroom disputes and just observing the unique mix of people who congregate on college campuses. If you are yearning for social contacts that can only be enjoyed on a college campus, you may come to regret your decision to pursue a degree via remote learning.
You may do well with distance education if you are self-motivated and confident in your abilities, and if you do not need the support of lectures or other people to understand your subject matter.